Dispensing cabinet



H. PRKER DISPENSING CABINET d.. 2 ma Filed July 28, 1925 Fatented flot, F, WEF,

ill-i WllW F HUWARD PARKER, UF BERJLXFT, NEW' HAMPSHIRE, ,ASSlGNOR TO BROWN COMPANY, OF BERLIN, NEVI I-lrll/PSHRE, A CDRPURATION 0F' DSPJENSING CABJENFJ'F.

'lFhis invention has relation to towel dis pensing cabinets, particularly `those from which superposed interleaved sheets such as paper towels may be successively removed.

rllhe paper towels in such cases are usually folded back and forth several times, the last foldy of each towel overlapping and engaging the first .fold of the next towel in the packet within the cabinet, so that when one towel is withdrawn from the cabinet, the Aadjacent end of the next towel emerges so that it may be grasped. Heretofore such cabinets have found application inthe wash rooms of large buildings and hotels, but have not been used extensively for household or similar purposes.

y rlfhe object of the present invention, generally stated, is to provide towel dispensing cabinet construction of a typewhich willfbe simple in construction and which will render i efficient service in operation.

@ne feature of the invention relates to a construction by which the sheets may be removed from the lower end of the cabinet, the superposed sheets being guided to the emerging slotat the lower end of the cabinet by suitable guiding means provided within the cabinet. Other features of the invention relate to construction which permits the cabinet si; to be opened for replenishing of the towel supply or for other purposes, and means tending to close the cabinet when it is open, so that the towels are not liable to accidental disengagement or permitted to fall out of the cabinet. Further features and advantageous details and combination of parts will appear from a more complete description of an embodiment of the invention disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet fully` opened. Y

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section along the lines 2-2- of Figure 1.

VFigure 3 is an'enlarged life size transverse section along the lines 3-3 of Figure 1.

lteferring to the drawings, the cabinet as shown comprises a receptacle for housing a supply of interleaved sheets, indicated as a whole at A, hingedly secured to a back or cover B. The cabinet is preferably constructed of sheet metal stampings, and the receptacle Amay consist of several pieces which have been suitably fastened together, as by welding, or it may consist of an intetill gral piece properly cut and bent to form, with certain of its edge portions suitably fastened together, but is preferably formed by drawing or pressing a properly cut blank by suitable pressdies. The receptacle A as shown is of substantially rectangular or box form, and has an open back through which beads 2, to present a smooth finished surface and to offer little resistance to the towels as they emerge from the receptacle. ln order to present the towels in proper position before emergence from the exit slot of the cabinet, within the receptacle A and welded or otherwise suitably secured to the ends l and 5, respectively, are the inclined leaves 6 and 7, converging toward the ends of the exit slot1. `With such construction, a packet of towels may be placed in the cabinet without paying particular attention to the proper arrangement of the sheets. rlhe guides also act to partially support the towels and to impose a slight frictional resistance to their passage toward the exit opening, to hold back the superposed sheets suliiciently to permit ready withdrawal of the lowest sheet without, however, `interfermg with their normal downward progress toward the exit opening.

rlhe receptacle l is supported in a manner to permit the cabinet to be opened at will for replenishment of the towel supply, and is then Aautomatically closed.` For this purpose, the receptacle is provided at one of its ends 5 with rolled spaced elements or beads 8 and 9, serving as hinge members. rlhese members are rotatably mounted on a pintle 10, secured to a pair of spaced beads or supporting members 12 and 13, at one end 'of the back or cover B, and between these members is a coil spring 15, one end 18 of which ein tends in the rear of the back B. rlhe other end 16 of the spring engages the outer face of the end 5 of the receptacle, so that upon l member 2() has a thumb element 19 by which the catch 22 may be disengaged from the slot and the receptacle A swung open. The back is also provided with a plurality oif openings or holes 21 therethrough, so that the receptacle maybe conveniently secured to a wall, door, or other suitable supporting structureO.y l A As shown in Figure 3, the towels are placed within the receptacle, the guides 6 and 7 directingthem towardthe opening in proper position, so that the end of the lower-most towel .25 protrudes through the opening a-nd may be grasped. Y In removing one towel, the adjacent end of the Vsucceeding towel is presented through the opening, so that successive removal of the superposed vtowels within the receptacle maybe accomplished.

It isV to be noted that the construct-ion described issinipleand provides for the openv ing and automatic Yclosing of; the cabinet by simple means conveniently located yand easily operated. Moreover, the towels may be inserted in the cabinet without particular attention to .their position andproper removal thereof Imay be had.` Because ofthe ldistinctive construction of the cabinet of the present invention, it isespecially adaptediior mann- Tfacture i-n'small units,A each to contain about 1G0to'wels, and is'particularly suitable for household or similarfuse. It may be produced inexpensively and sold cheaply as compared with towel cabinets now on the market, and is ythus ^suitable to more extensive use.

y Having thus described an embodiment of thisinven'tion, it should be evident that it is susceptible ofvarious changes and modifications without y. departing fromv its spirit or scope asldeiinedlbytheappended claims. v

i- What'I claim is': g y l 1. A dispensing cabinetfcomprising a back for securement toa support, an open-back i, receptacle orjhousing a supply of interleaved sheets hingedly secured thereto at one end and having a slot at the bottom, through which said sheets may be successively withdrawn, and a pair of inclined leaves within and adjacent to the ends of said receptacle and convergingl toward the ends of said slot for guiding said sheets in proper position toward said slot, said receptacle being swingably open from said baci; horizontally, so that sheets may be. introduced into said receptacle through its open back.

2. A dispensing 'cabinet comprising a hack for securenient to 'a support, an open-back rcceptacle igor housing a supply oi interleaved sheets hingedly secured thereto at one end and having a slot at the bottoni through which said sheets may be successively withdrawn, means for locking said receptacle to said back, means tending to close and lock said vreceptacle to said back when the cabinet is open, and a pair of inclined leaves within and adjacent to the ends of said receptacle and converging towardfthe ends of said slot for guiding the sheets in proper position thereto.

8. A dispensing cabinet constructed of sheet material comprising a back for securement to a support and having a pair of spaced rolled hinge elements at one end, an open back receptacle for housing a stack of interleaved sheets'and having at one end a pair of spaced rolled portions forming hinge elements, said receptacle having a slot at the bottom throufrh which said sheets may be successivelywit idrawn, a pair of inclined leaves within `and adjacent to the ends oi said receptacle and converging toward the ends of said slot for guiding the sheets in proper position thereto, a pint-le passing through said several hinge elements, a spring coiled about said pintle bctween said back elements and having one end engaging the back and the other end engaging the end or' said receptacle, thereby tending to force said receptacle against said back, and a spring f metal strip on said back having a pro'tuberance constructed to engage in a mat- -ing hole in said receptacle to maintain said receptacle locked to said back, said strip having a thumb element by means of which said protuberance may be disengaged from said hole.

In testimony whereof I have aixed my signature.

HOVARD PARKER. 

